When is the best time to breed a dog in heat? It may seem as though dogs can turn up pregnant in the blink of an eye, but it's actually a fairly complicated process. Just ask any breeder who has repeatedly tried and failed to produce a litter from their champion female dog -- sometimes, things just don't go according to plan. Successful dog breeding is all about the timing, so take a closer look at the biological issues behind the process. Show
Dog Heat Cycle Indicates When to BreedEstrusSimply put, estrus is a female dog's fertile time, generally referred to as a heat cycle or "season." The first heat cycle typically takes place between 6 and 9 months old, but breeds that mature more slowly may not experience a first heat until 12 to 18 months of age.
Cycle LengthA normal canine heat cycle lasts approximately three weeks, during which time the dog will release a discharge that contains blood. There are numerous signs and symptoms that indicate when a dog is in heat. In the initial stage, known as proestrus, a female dog's vulva begins to swell, and you may notice them licking themselves more than usual. Male dogs will also begin sniffing them more when their hormones produce a scent that signals they are ready to breed. Dog Heat Cycle ChartWeeks of HeatHeat Stages, Signs, and SymptomsWeek OneOnce the vulva begins to swell, the female dog will begin to produce a bloody discharge. The amount will vary from one dog to the next, so it may or may not be noticeable.Week TwoSometime around nine to 12 days, the color of the discharge lightens to a pinkish-tan color. It's usually around this time, referred to as estrus, that the vulva softens and eggs are released from the ovaries. At this point, you may notice your female dog flirting with other dogs; this is a sign they are ready to accept a stud dog's advances.Week ThreeIf the female's heat cycle is allowed to continue uninterrupted, the discharge begins to look bloody again by the third week. The amount will trail off until the cycle has concluded with anestrus. Yearly, Bi-Yearly, or Quarterly CyclesOn average, a healthy intact female dog comes into season every six months. However, this can vary -- some dogs only cycle once a year, while others come into season on a quarterly basis. Quite often, female dogs that experience heat quarterly are not fertile every season. Signs That It's Time to BreedSo, when is the best time to breed a dog in their heat cycle? Look for these signals that your dog is ready to be bred:
How to Track a Dog's Heat CycleWhile you cannot predict the exact day or even week when a dog will come into their heat cycle, there are ways to track it and obtain a general idea of when it can occur. On the first day that your dog comes into heat, use a calendar to count out the next eight to 10 days -- this will comprise their complete cycle. From there, use the calendar to track out the next five to eight months. Months five, six, and seven are times when your dog may come into heat. Unfortunately, you'll need to track your dog's heat cycles for some time before you can get an understanding of their normal pattern. It's also possible to determine how close a dog is to their heat cycle using hormone testing, but this can be cost-prohibitive, as you will need to do it regularly to establish a pattern. Another option is to use a dog heat cycle calculator app, such as The Puppy Planner, which is available for iOS and Android devices. Are you InTheKnow? Invalid email Count me inI agree to receive email communications from LoveToKnow.com The Dog Mating ProcessBreeding usually takes place naturally, without any human intervention, beyond introducing the potential dam to the stud. However, a little direction may be required if one or both of the dogs involved have never been bred before.
If the mating has been successful and the female dog conceives, they will deliver pups between 58 and 63 days later. You can easily find your dog's due date by consulting a canine pregnancy calendar. Best Time for MatingThere's no specific way to determine when ovulation will occur in a home setting. Usually, your dog will be most fertile between nine to 10 days after they entered heat, and can remain fertile for up to five days. According to VCA Hospitals, the most common sign is the color of the discharge, which becomes more of a pink, "salmon" color rather than blood red. You can also take your dog to the vet to have serum progesterone tests performed, which can give you insight into when the best time for mating is, but it does require you to take your dog for a series of tests every day or every other day during their cycle. DIY testing kits are available for purchase, as well, although they may not be as reliable as the tests performed by your veterinarian. Age and MatingA dog can breed the first time they go into heat. However, a responsible breeder will have important criteria in mind before allowing a dog to be bred. According to the American Kennel Club, you may not register any litters from a dam younger than 8 months or older than 12 years. In addition, they strongly recommend that breeders consider several factors not related to age before breeding. Prospective breeders should ask themselves the following questions.
Time Will TellOnce breeding has been completed, it will take some time to find out if it was a success. You'll be able to tell if a litter is on the way a lot sooner if you learn to spot the signs of pregnancy. How long should a dog wait in between litters?First, when you look at the reproductive and nursing cycle of a dog and their healing needs, it's fairly comparable to a human having a baby every 2 years or so.
Is it OK to breed a dog back to back?It is frequently claimed that breeding dogs on every heat or “back to back breeding” is bad for a bitch's long term health and well being. However the research in canine reproduction shows that not breeding a dog when it comes into heat can in fact be bad for its health.
How long after a dog has pups can she get pregnant again?Taking this into account, since a dog will go into heat every 6 months or so and the gestation period lasts 2 months, a dog will take about another 4 months before they can become pregnant again.
How often can you breed a dog per year?Number of Litters for Female Dogs
It's possible for a female dog to have a maximum of three litters a year. Female dogs can go into heat between the ages of six to 12 months and do not go into menopause. Assuming a dog lives to the average age of 11, this means a dog could have up to 30 litters.
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